Fighting for the future of Jerusalem

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat: "I have laid some solid foundations, and now I am ready to take this city forward to the place and position it deserves."

By PEGGY CIDOR
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat 521 (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat 521
(photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)
Nir Barkat, once a golden boy of the hi-tech scene and mayor of Jerusalem since 2008, was roused from a somewhat sleepy electoral campaign about three weeks ago. Until then, he was the sole candidate for mayor, and many considered the election a mere formality. But with the appearance of Moshe Lion, who recently moved from Givatayim to a rented apartment in Jerusalem in order to run for the position, those at Barkat’s headquarters have become much more alert.
The name of the new game, even though both candidates refuse to admit it publicly, is who is going to gain the support of the haredi voters. Deputy mayor Itzhak Pindrus (United Torah Judaism) told this reporter a few months ago that his sole mission was to find the candidate who would best serve the haredi community in the city.
But it’s not only the haredim who may be considering an alternative. There are many in the secular and national-religious sectors who are unsatisfied with Barkat, mostly because of the lack of solutions regarding affordable housing and employment for young people, as well as the pollution on the streets, which many say Barkat has failed to remedy.
Barkat sat down with In Jerusalem recently to discuss some of these issues.
How do you feel these days, as you begin this second electoral campaign?
As usual, in good faith, with optimism. I work hard, I am confident in my mission. For me, Jerusalem is the task of my life. I put aside, 12 years ago, all the things I was involved in until then. I am totally focused on this mission.
And how does it look, after almost five years in the position?
When I look back and remember the city I received then, and what I, with all the people working with me, have managed to do, it makes me feel good.
What [particularly] makes you feel good?
The figures I see that show the trends – like the drop in migration from the city, the figures about a rise in employment, and many more.... I know we still have a lot ahead of us to achieve, but it makes me feel good to realize what has been achieved. I feel I have plenty of energy for the next five years.
Do you think that the residents also feel many good things have been achieved here under your tenure?
The residents know and feel the changes that have occurred in the city. I have very broad and solid support among the public, I have laid some solid foundations, and now I am ready to take this city forward to the place and position it deserves. I know what I have received, I know what I have managed to do, and I have a clear idea of what I am planning to do, with my sense of mission – I wake up every morning full of energy, eager and ready for the next phase in my life.How does it feel to learn that all of a sudden, there is someone else who has jumped in and wants to replace you as mayor? Does it bother you?
If I consider it from the formalistic side, in politics it’s normal that someone challenges me.
Formality aside, does it bother you that Moshe Lion, who didn’t live in Jerusalem up to now, is also running for mayor of Jerusalem?
I suggest you ask him what happened now that led him to do this. But in answer to your question, yes, it’s amazing to me that somebody who doesn’t know this city, [who] is not a Jerusalemite [is running]. Someone who’s been sent here – I don’t even understand what exactly is going on there, but I don’t occupy myself with him. The only thing I occupy myself with is my plan for the future of this city.
Like what?
Like how to create 100,000 new jobs here, how to improve public transportation, how to spur the improvement of the education system in the city, its culture, the sports and leisure facilities, how to expand the investments in every field, in infrastructure – we have a large working plan we’ve been working on already for the last three years. I’m talking about things I know for sure that I can bring in and implement, as I did in the last elections [in 2008].
Your plans sound very impressive, but most of these things – employment, affordable housing, infrastructure and development – are things that a mayor, even if he’s the best, can’t do without substantial government support. The feeling is that the government hasn’t met your engagement, hasn’t been backing you financially.
That is not true. The prime minister, the ministers, all the government – I see an improvement, year after year, in the support of the government for the city of Jerusalem. It starts with the prime minister, who is committed to the city, and I see it in the figures – the investments of the state, the budgets, the preference and priority given to Jerusalem is growing.
The Transportation Ministry helps us with the road paving, the Education Ministry with the afternoon programs in kindergartens.
Many complain about the poor condition of the roads.
Compared to what we had before me, it’s a huge improvement – until 2008, the city budget for that purpose [paving roads] was NIS 3 million per year, which is enough for three kilometers of roads. This year we’ve jumped to 40 km. of roads [with a NIS 40m. budget].
And that’s government funding?
That’s municipal money.
So where is the government?
The government invests a lot in transportation, in continuing the light rail lines and extending the first line. There we can see the change – following our efforts, from the usual division of 70 percent [government money] and 30% municipal money to a larger governmental investment, up to 90% or more from the government, for this heavy work on the light rail. And that enables us to do much more in physical development.
This is only one example of how the government does support the city’s needs. We’ve made tremendous improvements.... Israeli tourists come in large numbers, including young people, to enjoy the entertainment that Jerusalem can provide.
Yes, but nevertheless, the young people of Jerusalem, who can now have lots of fun and entertainment here, still have to leave the city to find decent employment.
It’s a process. When I assess the actual situation compared to what I received on starting my term, I can see improvement.
Is Economy and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett a partner for you? Can you say he is an ally regarding your plans?
The answer is yes. The state is attentive to our needs. Well, the government is busy running the state. I see my role as encouraging the government to enable the solutions I seek for the city. As the mayor, as a Jerusalemite, I know what is good and in demand... for our city. It’s my job to bring that to the government.
And happily, I [met with] understanding – there are no arguments between us and the various ministries.
I bring my plans, my proposals, the state looks at them and has to decide whether it is an expense or an investment.
I always present my plans and requests as an investment. It’s not accidental that the government invests more in the city – it’s the result of programs presented as worthy of governmental investment.
We’re done with money given for our mere subsistence, money that didn’t bring any change to the status and the prosperity of the city – on the contrary.
And in this approach of yours, whose job is it to bring private investment to the city? The mayor’s or the government’s?
My understanding [is that] it is first and foremost my responsibility, my task as mayor to achieve that.
Somebody has to do it, right? I brought up the concept, and the government is backing us, and I am grateful for that.
And what about the private sector? Have you managed to attract it, too?
Absolutely. Look at Har Hotzvim – you can’t find a vacant location there for new investors, it’s full. All the industrial zones in the city are occupied. Hence, our next step is to plan and construct new industrial zones.
Besides these development plans, you also have to deal with daily political issues. When you first stepped onto the field, you presented yourself as somebody who didn’t use the usual somewhat cynical language of politics. Years have passed since – have you changed? Have you adopted the rules of politics?
I believe that if you examine [the way I work], you will certainly note that I have always preferred a professional attitude – I have not changed.
Yet last week [August 1], you made a typical political decision in agreeing to add your biggest opponent at city council, Meir Turgeman, to your list for the next city council.
First of all, I wasn’t compelled to do so. I thought and still think it is the right decision.
Still, five, seven years ago, that wouldn’t even have occurred to you. What has changed since?
What has changed is that at the moment we are preparing ourselves for the next five years. Meir Turgeman sat in the opposition for five years.
And made your life miserable!
No, that’s the rule of the game – that’s the opposition, that’s his role. I was there once, I know the rules. But beyond that, Meir knows that [my] continuing to manage this city is the right thing to do. And Meir simply reached a decision – does he want to remain in the opposition for five more years, or would he be better off joining me and working from within the municipal system? I’ve known Meir for a long time. I know his advantages and his disadvantages, and I am sure that we have an opportunity here. I believe it is feasible – that’s why I decided to invite him to join me. [Turgeman will be No. 2 on Barkat’s next list, which puts him first in line to become deputy mayor.] We have signed an agreement that is public, unlike what happens among others, where nobody knows exactly what has been agreed upon with whom.
Some perceive this agreement with Turgeman – which gives him the portfolio of the neighborhood councils and community centers – as a final closing of the door to an eventual renewal of the coalition between you and Rachel Azaria, as she has been very involved with these issues. Is that so?
That is not true. My door is open for all the lists in the council.
That’s the way I acted last time, too [in 2008]. There’s room for everyone; I am open to a true dialogue. That’s how I act – I usually draw a line on the past and walk forward, as I did with the haredi representatives in this current council.
But it seems that the haredim are not satisfied, since they openly say they want to replace you.
I disagree with you, I believe that haredi society is very satisfied.
You probably know by now that there is a strong possibility that the haredi parties will support Lion’s candidacy. How do you feel about that?
Let me first explain my worldview on these issues. I believe that the mayor of Jerusalem must hold a holistic view, a liberal approach. He must enable each sector to live in its own neighborhood according to it’s own custom. As a civil servant – that’s how I see my mission – I have to serve the Zionist sector in their neighborhoods, the haredim in their neighborhoods, according to their way, and the Arab sector according to their customs in their neighborhoods. I have worked according to this concept, and not one of these sectors has not been taken care of.
Those who base their actions on support from the haredi sector only, with eventual additional support from another sector, do not, in my opinion, have a liberal approach and that is certainly not good for Jerusalem. We were there for 15 years [during the mayoral terms of Ehud Olmert and Uri Lupolianski], and look where it got us! And perhaps there are some people who want to go back to that.
I am not here to educate people, or to promote my own private outlook – certainly not. There is pluralism in Jerusalem, and it means respecting the haredim, respecting the secular, respecting the Jews and the non-Jews alike. Even haredim, if you ask them, will tell you that they feel they have advanced and improved their situation.